Upon returning to the camp. Romanova immediately told me to rest. Atmaja escorted Dahlan to the presence of King Majagada. After taking the medicine and the healers stabilized my body's condition. I was finally able to sleep soundly.
The next morning, I was curious how Romanova knew Iris. I went out of the tent and looked for her. After walking around the camp area, I found her reading and practicing some magic near a bonfire outside the camp.
I approached her and sat on the edge of the bonfire. Romanova, who noticed my presence, stopped her practice. She sat next to me and opened a pot over the bonfire. "I made deer meat soup. Do you want some?"
Because my stomach felt hungry. I guess I could eat deer meat. "Yes, thank you."
After stirring the soup one more time. Romanova took two bowls and filled them with soup. She gave one to me and took the rest.
We enjoyed this deer meat soup as our breakfast menu. I saw Romanova eating it very heartily. "Wow, my hometown recipe is truly irreplaceable."
"Where is your hometown, Romanova? A-and how did you meet Iris?" I asked.
"It's a long story. Do you want to listen?" Romanova said.
"Yes." I replied.
***
"Ah damn, the Republic rebels have reached Gienes." Romanova's father cursed. "Commander Harries, do we have a chance to save my brother?"
"If we can break through and quickly get to Rabu Palace there, yes. But the rebels have locked themselves in Gienes City and are now surrounding Rabu Palace." The old man named Harries answered.
"My suggestion is that you should escape with your family, Prince Stillers." The old man shook his head. "You can use our boat to cross Lake Gienes or escape towards Grafor or Grimley where pro-monarchy bases still exist."
"I will not leave my brother. Can we focus the attack on one point and break into Gienes?" Stillers asked. "Through the Vospold River. Swim at night and ambush suddenly?"
"Good idea, Prince. My main force will focus on attacking the gate and climbing the wall with ladders. So that the rebels' focus is divided and you can immediately go to Rabu Palace to save the King." Harries said.
"I can also help father save uncle! With my magic, I can help father!" Romanova said. "My friend Iris from Majagada will be here soon."
"But we don't have time to wait for help from Majagada. Your uncle's life is in danger now. We don't know when his elite guard force will be defeated by the rebels." Stillers replied and stroked his daughter's hair.
"If they come through Kiers, they can get here in 4 hours of walking. But if they choose to land at Trodingnes, they will be blocked by the Trodinges nobility and forbidden to dock. Moreover, the fort in Smaranova Bay is controlled by the rebels." Harries added.
"If you want, this is a gamble strategy. Bring 500 cavalry from my division to attack Smaranova Fort." Harries said. "My guess is that if they don't know about the arrival of the ship from Majagada, they will move the rebel forces there to here."
"Moreover, news from my scout is that the rebel forces are gathering in Sordurn Village to gather strength and train new recruits they have recruited from pro-rebel citizens." Harries spread out the map.
"I will try!" Romanova exclaimed. "This help is important for the survival of the Kingdom of Gienes, right?"
"I will try, father, Commander Harries." Romanova approached the table where Harries had spread out the map. The old man placed several pieces based on the latest information about the enemy he knew."If you can go to Vopold Village and meet my friend Winstad and convince him to return to the Kingdom of Gienes, he and his 1500 infantry and archers can help us fight to take Smaranova," Harries said.
"No need, it's too dangerous for my daughter," Stillers said.
"He won't be able to forgive me because I married Silesia, Harries. That young man will surely take Romanova hostage and use her as a bargaining chip," he added.
"I'll just attack Smaranova directly," Romanova said, "Wish me luck, Father, Commander Harries."
Romanova ran out of the command tent and headed to where the cavalry was. She carried orders from Harries to divide them into two to go with her. Captain Judeans accepted and divided his men, allowing Beurs to help Romanova lead her cavalry.
They departed exactly at 12 noon. Romanova had an idea of how to get her mother's ex-lover to side with them, considering her face resembled her mother's. They headed towards Vopold Village. Half an hour later they arrived, and they were blocked by Winstad's troops.
"Romanova? Why are you leading troops to Vopold Village? Go home and escape with your mother," said the blonde man at the front of his infantry line. "I don't want to hurt someone I consider my own child."
"Uncle Winstad, please! Come back and side with the kingdom!" Romanova exclaimed. "My mother will surely be happy to see Uncle come to help her."
"Never. Seeing your mother marry Stillers was painful for me," Winstad replied. "Step back, Romanova! Where are you going with those troops? The south is full of supporters of the republic!"
Romanova dismounted her horse and walked across the battlefield. Winstad ordered his archers to prepare. Seeing Winstad preparing, Romanova did the opposite. "If I come without my weapon and magic staff, won't Uncle consider me a guest? I'm not here to attack Uncle."
Winstad saw Romanova's action and ordered the archers in the village watchtower to lower their weapons. Romanova approached her uncle and hugged him tightly. "Uncle, I ask you to come back and help Mother."
"Akh!" Winstad accepted the hug from his niece. "Whatever you want, Romanova. You may pass."
"I'm asking Uncle to help Mother. Wouldn't Mother be happy if Uncle would help her?" Romanova still negotiated.
Winstad was silent and told Romanova to wait a moment. The man entered one of the houses in the village and ordered a courier from his troops to deliver a letter. Winstad then lowered the rebellion flag and replaced it with the monarchy flag. "Just for this time, as long as your father and mother won't punish me."
"Thank you, Uncle!" Romanova was happy to see her mother's ex-lover now on her side.
"You surely want to go to Smaranova Fortress, right? You need to conquer it to warn the Majagada naval fleet, right?" Winstad asked. "If so, you must hurry. Currently, the rebels are fighting them in the bay."
"I can only lend you archers. The rest I will take to join in besieging Gienes," Winstad said and called his troop officers. "Those of you who still want to rebel, please leave. If you want to come with me, feel free."
"I know you won't leave me. I raised you since you were new cadets, soldiers who knew nothing. We've been through 15 battles and returned safely," Winstad addressed his troops. "I know in your hearts it's hard to remain loyal to the kingdom because of the actions of that Stupid King Gienes. But for my sake, would you for this one time help the kingdom for the last time?"
Everyone was silent, some soldiers left the ranks and left.Those who remained here went with Winstad. Then he divided his archer troops to Romanova.
The reorganization of Romanova's and Winstad's troops took 2 hours. Only then did they separate and head to their respective destinations. Having foot archers would be a challenge for Romanova. In her head, she thought of quickly storming the fort and then helping the Majagada troops landing in the bay with the help of the fort's cannons.
But these archers would have difficulty keeping up with the pace of her cavalry. She could order some of her cavalry to dismount and become infantry. However, that was somewhat dangerous because they were light cavalry and only 50 people had heavy cavalry equipment that could be converted into heavy infantry to protect the archers.
After 1.5 hours of marching. Now they began to hear the sound of cannons and war cries. The sound of swords clashing combined with the sound of cannon fire hitting the bay ground was heard. There were also some pro-monarchy naval soldiers protecting their technicians to build a temporary port for the Majagada naval fleet to land its troops.
Romanova's arrival surprised the rebels. Romanova organized her cavalry formation with the help of the Judeans. Romanova cast her magic and destroyed the palisade and anti-cavalry devices in front of the fort wall. She cast her high-level fireball magic and combined it with her wind magic to knock down and burn the gate.
The cannons in the fort stopped firing at the Majagada naval fleet. They were moved to fire at Romanova and her cavalry troops. The Judeans gave the signal for all of them to advance and attack the rebel soldiers.
Meanwhile, the light infantry troops from the light cavalry advanced and brought ladders to facilitate the mobility of other troops to enter. The archers helped until they advanced using their short swords to assist the other troops.
Romanova replenished her magic energy and reduced the level of its destructive power so as not to damage the cannons they would use later. Seeing the magic attack from Romanova made the rebels afraid and flee. Some still fought desperately.
The rebel wizard division was not here and was in another area for training. Romanova took advantage of this to quickly take over the fort. She re-hoisted the monarchy flag in this fort and ordered the technicians to use the cannons on the rebel troops on the beach.
The first Majagada transport ship successfully landed its troops. As soon as the doors and ramps were lowered, the attack from the Majagada knights penetrated and damaged the center line of the rebel troops. Iris was there leading the elite Majagada knights.
Seeing a fireball attack from the top of the fort, she knew Romanova was there. Slowly all the temporary ports were completed as the afternoon wore on. The rebels, fearing being surrounded, retreated from the beach and reorganized their formation.